The Effects of Tool Geometry and Path Strategy in SPIF Process

Single Point Incremental Forming (SPIF) is a forming technique of sheet material based on layered manufacturing principles. The sheet part is locally deformed through horizontal slices. The moving locus of forming tool (called as toolpath) in these slices constructed to the finished part is performed by the CNC technology. The toolpath is created directly from CAD model of the final product. A general purpose fixture and special forming tools have been designed and implemented to clamp and deform the blanks during the forming process on CNC vertical milling machine, The forming tools are (Ball end, Spherical and Flat with round corner) which are moved along the toolpath while the edges of sheet material are clamped rigidly on fixture. In Incremental sheet metal forming process, one important step is to generate tool path, accurate tool path is one of the main challenge of incremental sheet metal forming process. Various factors should be considered prior to generation of the tool path i.e. mechanical properties of sheet metal, the holding mechanism, tool speed, feed rate and tool size.